Are electric bikes good for exercise?
E bike users can unlock some huge rewards beyond reducing their car trips and carbon emissions - crucially electric bikes are encouraging more physical activity and providing several mental health benefits.
With increasing rates of inactivity among all age groups, e bike rides provide a more accessible route to exercise, which can only be a good thing.
Removing Common Health Barriers to Cycling
e bikes provide assistance over longer distances, where conventional bikes might seem a little intimidating to those who lack confidence in their cycling fitness and ability. The pedal assist might just be the thing to encourage more commuters to cycle to work and help those worried about not being fit enough start riding an electric bike.
These common blockers are instantly removed with an e bike and even those with long standing health issues are more likely to be able to enjoy the world of cycling by going electric.
Other barriers still do exist such as the UK's lack of cycling infrastructure compared with other European countries, but with ranges like the CUBE step through line up making cycling more accessible, there are entry points for all types of cyclists.
Using e bikes for exercise
The health benefits of electric bicycles are sometimes underestimated, with e bike riders sometimes labelled as 'cheating' and not needing to put the effort in.
However the truth is, e bikes encourage cyclists to ride longer and do more exercise. Not only this, they have loads of fun doing so, reaching faster speeds and still getting those calories burned.
Electric bike health benefits
Here are some of the best health benefits of e-bikes:
Weight loss:
Riding an e bike is still a physical activity and so can help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. The exercise you get from riding an e-bike can help you burn calories and build muscle, especially if you are cycling weekly or for your daily commute.
Reduced stress:
Riding an e-bike is a great way to reduce stress. The fresh air and exercise can help you clear your head and relax, plus it can be great way to divide the home/work life balance if you cycle to work.
Improved cardiovascular health:
Riding an e-bike can help improve your cardiovascular health, bringing your heart rate up to help you reach your weekly goals. The moderate intensity exercise can help lower your blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk of heart disease. Depending on the settings you are running on your electric bike, you can increase the effort required to something like a traditional bike if you want as your fitness levels increase.
Better mental health:
Riding an e-bike is also great for your mental health. Exercise can help reduce anxiety and depression, and it can also boost your mood and self-esteem. The intense exercise is a great way to grab some endorphins.
Recovery from injury:
e biking is a great way to manage any injuries with the assistance of the electric motor making your cycle a bit easier. However, using the advanced tech of an e bike, you can fine tune your ride to suit your fitness goals and ramp up your workout as you recover.
When it comes to a healthier lifestyle the benefits e-bikes can bring include:
Commuting: Electric bikes can help you save time and money on transportation as well as help you reduce your carbon footprint, all at the same time as increasing your physical activity levels.
Running errands: an electric bike does offer a more convenient and efficient way to get to the supermarket, post office, or library with no traffic worries or parking costs, and with the pedal assist there is no sweat either while still enjoying some moderate exercise.
Exploring: Cycling is a great way to explore your local area while boosting your fitness levels. They're a lot of fun to ride, and they can help you get to places that you wouldn't be able to reach on foot.
Improved fitness: E-bikes can help you get exercise without feeling too tired or sore. The electric motor provides assistance, so you can ride for longer and farther than you would on a regular bike. Even if you fancy a cycle on the South Downs with cycling friends that you would of previously turned down, an e bike makes it possible.
Can you get fit on an electric bike?
As part of a balanced lifestyle, riding an electric bike can definitely help you on your fitness journey. You can take on longer rides, and you can choose the assistance level on your bike, so even if you are getting tired, you can keep cycling and enjoying the ride.
Deciding how much effort you put in on the bike can be adjusted using the fantastic tech that comes with modern electric bikes. You can swap a car commute or bus journey for an e bike ride, and this will boost your fitness over time.
Enjoy moderate exercise on any kind of electric bike
There are fitness gains to be had no matter what type of cycling you enjoy, whether you are a flat road cruiser and want a hybrid leisure bike or cargo carrier for the city, or if you want a gravel or cyclocross bike for rougher terrain - there are some great bikes to choose from.
There is a health benefit to e mountain bike rides as well - beyond getting to the top of the trail quicker after a down hill dash, mountain biking is of course a moderate intensity physical activity, with those heart pounding moments made even better on a stunning eMTB.
Reach your destination faster with big bike brands
You can enjoy an exhilarating and heart racing ride on any carefully designed electric bike from your favourite cycling brands. Many manufacturers of traditional bikes are in the e bike space delighting cyclists of all ability.
Some of the epic brands in stock at Evolve include: CUBE, Cannondale, Orbea, Pinarello, Specialized, Trek and many more. Having fun and enjoying what you do is a sure fire way to give all aspects of your health a boost!
In summary electric bikes are fantastic for exercise; they make cycling more accessible, they help convert car commuters into cyclists and get people who previously did less exercise out and about and enjoying cycling.
